The Invisible Marksmen of Amasra Castle: Arrow Slots

How did the Defense Architecture Work?

Narrow Exterior Opening, Wide Interior Facade: The outer part of the shaft was left knife-sharp thin, while the inner part was widened into a funnel shape. This gave the archer a very wide angle of fire, almost invisible.

High Niche: The holes start slightly below chest level and extend upwards, allowing the archer to shoot both sitting and standing.

Stone Trap Covers: At the end of the siege, the battlements were closed from the inside, providing additional protection against rain, wind and the enemy.

Secret Rooms Behind the Zodiac Signs

• Behind every battlement rooms with narrow platform or cascading galleries is found.
• These rooms contained chests of arrows, spare bows, and narrow "eyebrow eyes" and daylight vents.
• Although today some rooms are walled off, the density of the crenellation gives you a clue to the network of corridors inside.

Manhole Types in Amasra

Where Can You See Similar Manholes?

Strategic Layer

Thanks to these tiny windows, Amasra Castle, "invisible snipers" fortress. The fine stonework reflects the multi-layered defense culture from Byzantine to Genoese, while the density of the network of battlements reflects the port city's commercial and military reinforces its importance.